ALBANY- With stste budget talks on hold, Gov. Pataki is flyingto California this weekend to raise money for his 1998 re-electioncampaign.

Pataki's office announced the trip late yesturday, but wouldprovide no further details except to say the events will behosted by California Gov. Pete Wilson.

Wilson was an unsuccessful candidate for president in 1996 and isbest known for his strong opposition to illegal immigration.

"I don't have any details," Pataki press aide Eileen Strong said."Obviously, according to the law, any fund-raising activitiesdone by Governor Pataki will be disclosed when the campaigncommittee files its disclosure statements."

Those are not due at the state Board of Elections until July 15.Earlier this year, Pataki said he had about $5 million on hand,and he is thought to have raised several million more since then.

In Sacramento, Wilson's press secretary, Sean Walsh, said thefund-raisers were "private engagements" and no information willbe given out.

"The governor and Governor Pataki are attending some eventstogether, but I don't have further details," Walsh said.

Long said Pataki will be back in New York on Monday, but "I don'tknow when he's leaving."

It is the second out of stste fund-raising trip in a month forPataki., who spent more than $14 million on his 1992 campaign tooust Mario Cuomo from office.

A week before the April 1 budget adoption deadline, Pataki wentto Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee to raise moneyfor his campaign.

Pataki and his supporters have encouraged speculation that hewill run for president in 2000, and that the trips are part ofthe preparations to mount a national campaign.

California is a key swing state in presidential elections, with ahuge number of electoral votes. Despite that home-stateadvantage, Wilson's campaign for the presidential nomination lastyear fell apart after it was revealed he and his ex-wife hadhired an illegal immigrant worker in the 1970s.